By By Chandler Myers
What do you get when you have a boy from Brooklyn who loves sports, has a passion for broadcasting, throw in some peanuts and 20 years of Alabama Crimson Tide football? One of the most electric and legendary voices in sports broadcasting history.
Eli Gold, the voice of the Alabama Crimson Tide, recently published his third book titled, “From Peanuts to the Press Box,” which is the story of how he became the sports announcer he is today along with the road he took to get there.
Gold said he had always wanted to write this book because he always wanted to tell his story. He added that he had wanted to it for his first book, but it was ultimately his first two books would be on another subject he knows well.
Gold’s journey to the press box in Bryant-Denny Stadium started out as a young boy from Brooklyn looking to get as close to sports and the press box as he could.
Gold said he loved going to Madison Square Garden to watch games and stare up at the special place for announcers, but could not afford to buy tickets, so he found a way to get in for free by selling peanuts.
Making his way into the broadcasting industry was something Gold has his mind set on doing.
Gold practiced his broadcasting skills on his own when he would go to different games.
Gold said along with his practicing he began to meet people in the profession and by 1972 was working for the Mutual Broadcasting System.
After calling minor league hockey, he moved on to the National Hockey League and began calling games for the St. Louis Blues for the 1979-80 season.
Ten years later he would be presented with one of the biggest opportunities he would see.
Gold’s name was thrown into the mix for the open broadcasters job with the University of Alabama.
Gold said the deal on how landed with the Crimson Tide was a weird deal that turned out great.
Gold has been announcer for more than 30 years and has called several sports and experienced everything about them.
He said it’s hard to compare a sport such as NASCAR with calling a Crimson Tide football game, but added calling the Alabama game has something extra in it for him.
Since his first season with the Crimson Tide football team, Gold has seen ups and downs and experienced the highest of the highs.
He said the most exciting moment for him as the voice of the Crimson Tide has always been the 1992-93 season.
With the 2009 season in full swing and the Crimson Tide looking just a strong as their 12-2 season in 2008, Gold sees good things for this year’s squad.
Gold said he was excited after seeing how the team beat Virginia Tech to open the season.
Now Gold continues to do what he does best and give those listening to the Crimson Tide Network those vivid play-by-play calls that helped him land this job 20 years ago all the while not forgetting that he started out selling peanuts and staring up at those other lucky guys in the press box at Madison Square Garden.